Your career pay scale is a lot like compound interest. Since most employers you work for will give you a percentage raise each year. Below is an example that does not take into account things like pay jumps for changing jobs, or bonus pay. (remember bonus pay is a one time thing, pay raises keep on giving, because they are compounded)

Start pay |	Years worked |	pay rate with annual 3% raise
15K	20	$27,091
20K	20	$36,122
25K	20	$45,152
30K	20	$54,183

This is not to say you should forgo happiness for money, but if you can get your pay rate up earlier in your career, it will tend to stay higher overall.

No amount of money is worth being miserable for. Also integrity means something, your choice to stay with your current job because you have just taken it is a good idea. At one point in my career I decided to move (due to a variety of reasons, low pay being one of them). Found a new employer agreed to terms and accepted the position. Turned in notice to the president of the company, he accepted it. 2 days later Corporate owners offered close to 30K pay increase to stay. I turned it down, and went to the corporate president to ask what the heck this was about, his statement: “I told them not to bother trying, because your word is good”.

Some employers are better than others, some will take advantage of you every way they can, others will be more fair (but remember they are in the business of making money). Some also have integrity when dealing with you, others do not. You must choose how you will deal with employers in your life.

Good luck!